Battle of the Books 2010-2011
The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger’s Apprentice Book 1) by John Flanagan
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Oct.06, 2013, under Adventure, Battle of the Books 2010-2011, Student Reviews
Review by Ryan D.
Who would like this book? This book is an action and adventure book that is good for people who can handle some violence.
The goods on this book: The Ruins of Gorlan is a great book that is set in a medieval era. It is about a boy named Will who is an orphan with few friends. Will wants to get into battle school for his job like his dad who was in battle school. When Will is old enough, he gets a chance to get into battle school. Will’s friend Horace also wants to get into battle school. Will they both get in? This is a great book, and I highly recommend it.
The details: 249 pages; 2005 Review by Ryan D.
The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on May.27, 2012, under Battle of the Books 2010-2011, Mystery, Student Reviews
Review by Serena C.
Who would like this book? The London Eye Mystery is a great book for both female and male around the ages of teenage or adult.
Why? The London Eye Mystery is a mystery book based on a boy, Salim, who is stopping by his cousins who live in London. He is stopping by London because his mom got a job transfer to New York. Ted and Katherine take Salim on the London Eye because they are making plans for the day, and Salim said he has always wanted to go to the London Eye, a ride kind of like a giant ferris wheel. Now, Salim has gone missing, so his mom and relatives have a hard long three to four days trying to find him. Ted is able to work differently then regular people. I think the author really knows how to make the book a very good mystery story.
The details: 322 pp. 2007 Review by Serena C.
Science Fair by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Mar.03, 2012, under Battle of the Books 2010-2011, Humorous, Mystery, Student Reviews
Review by Annie P.
Who would like this book? Anyone who likes humor and Star Wars. It’s also a good book for science geeks.
Why? Every year at Hubble Middle School, they have a school science fair, and every year, one of the ME (Manor Estates) kids wins. Everyone knows that the ME kids cheat on their projects, but no one has any proof, so they can’t disqualify their projects. This year, the ME kids’ project plans came from a mysterious person who wants to take over America. When Toby, Tamera, and Micah find out about the terrorist attack ahead, they do everything in their power to destroy the ME kids’ science fair projects that are the key to the attack. They go through some pretty desperate measures, including getting arrested by the FBI and police, and driving a weinermobile into a helicopter. At the same time, two really weird guys, who think they are Star Wars characters, are trying to steal Toby’s parent’s Star Wars collection.
The details: 394 pp. 2008 Review by Annie P.
Savvy by Ingrid Law
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Feb.12, 2012, under Battle of the Books 2010-2011, Humorous, Real life, Student Reviews, Supernatural, YRCA
Who would like this book? Anyone who likes supernatural people with different powers.
Why? Mibs is part of a family who, when they turn 13, they get a Savvy. A savvy is kind of a supernatural ability. Mibs just turned 13 and has just gotten her Savvy, but her birthday isn’t complete without her Poppa, who has been unconscious for days. So Mibs, her brothers Fish and Samson, and her 2 friends, Bobbi and Will Jr, hitchhike to Salina Hope Hostital, getting a ride on a bus. But when the bus turns the opposite way from the hospital, they have to reveal themselves to the driver. Ingrid Law makes this story very funny, and interesting, so if you like books with lots of details coming from the first person, you would like this book.
The details: 342 pp. 2008 Review by Annie
Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Feb.12, 2012, under Abuse, Battle of the Books 2010-2011, Real life, Student Reviews
Who would like this book? Anyone who likes books with ups and downs in a character’s life.
Why? Addie’s mom, Mommers, and Addie’s stepdad, Dwight, have just broken up, and Dwight has put them in his trailer without a car, and only a little bit of money. Mommers has a “job” and doesn’t come back from the job for days and nights at a time. Addie has to learn to take care of herself while Mommers is away, and she has to take care of Mommers while she’s here. All Addie wants is for her life to be normal, but having her mom away for days, and her stepdad dating another woman, and her little sisters living with Dwight, it never equals normal.
Leslie Connor shows what Addie is feeling so well, it almost feels like you are Addie.
The details: 290 pp. 2008 Review by Annie
Savvy by Ingrid Law
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Jan.17, 2012, under Battle of the Books 2010-2011, Humorous, Real life, Student Reviews, Supernatural, YRCA
Who would like this book? If you are someone who likes lots of nice adventure and also some magic, and definitely a good ending, check out Savvy.
Why? Mibs (the main character) is turning 13 very soon. In her family, you get a special power called a savvy when you are officially a teenager. Mibs’s father gets into this bad accident and so he has to go to the hospital. Mibs’s mother is staying with him. Since Mibs has her savvy, how can she use it to help get her family back together?
The details: 342 pp. 2008 Review by Marika
Skeleton Creek: Ryan’s Journal by Patrick Carman
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Sep.26, 2011, under Battle of the Books 2010-2011, Horror, Multi-platform, Mystery, ORCA, Student Reviews
Who would like this book? People who like mysteries and scary books.
Why? Strange things are happening in Skeleton Creek and Ryan and Sarah are trying to figure them out. Right before the dredge shut down in 1985, Old Joe Bush died. Legend says that he died by falling into the gears and drowning because he had too much stolen gold in his pockets, but Sarah and Ryan think he got pushed. Most of the book is written as Ryan’s journal and Sarah’s videos are spread throughout the story as well. You can look them up online to watch. I think this story is engrossing and suspenseful!
The details: 185 pp. 2009 Review by Skylar M.
The White Giraffe by Lauren St. John
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Jul.12, 2011, under Adventure, Battle of the Books 2010-2011, Fantasy, Grief, Legend, Sam's Reviews
Who would like this book? Readers, grades 5 – 8, who love African animals and books that merge fantasy and reality.
Why? Martine Allen is living happily with her parents in England until the night of her eleventh birthday, when a fire tragically kills her parents. Her only relative is one she has never met – her aloof, cold grandmother, Gwyn Thomas, who runs a wildlife preserve in Africa. Gwyn holds all sorts of family secrets but refuses to explain anything to Martine. Frustrated, Martine looks for answers – and friendship – in unusual places. Stories about a legendary white giraffe captivate her, and after she believes that she saw the giraffe while looking out her window, she feels drawn to venture into the preserve at night against Gwyn’s strict orders. Magic merges with reality as Martine meets and bonds with the beautiful white giraffe whom she names Jemmy. Her mystical friendship with Jemmy pits her against the political world of poachers and allows her to discover great gifts within herself. Martine’s journey forces Gwyn to confront truths that she has feared for a long time, bringing the story to a rich and surprising climax. Though the combination of reality and fantasy is not seamless, it works well enough to make Martine an appealing and empathetic character.
This book is a 2011-2012 Battle of the books selection.
The details: 208 p. 2007 Review by Samrarian
Skeleton Creek series by Patrick Carman
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on May.10, 2011, under Adventure, Battle of the Books 2010-2011, Horror, Multi-platform, Student Reviews, Thriller
Who would like this book? Anyone who loves stories that give you the chills!! Don’t read this book if you’re scared easily because this book won’t make you go to bed at night!! Even if you do not like to read books, this is so different because it has videos you watch on the Internet every little while which makes it super realistic.
Why? This series takes you through an amazing adventure of how Ryan and his best friend Sarah take on one of the mysteries of an abandoned dredge. They live in a boring town of Skeleton Creek and all they want is something new and adventurous! Trying to figure out this mystery they run into suspicious people, dead and alive. This is definitely one of my favorite series because I am not really a “horror” reader, but even though I am not, I can not resist reading these books!
The details: Review by RyLee
Skeleton Creek 185 p. 2008
The Ghost in the Machine 205 p. 2009
The Crossbones 209 p. 2010
Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Feb.27, 2011, under Adventure, Battle of the Books 2010-2011, Fairy Tale, Romance, Student Reviews
Who would like this book? People who like fairy tales.
Why? This book is about a princess who is planning to rule after the death of her parents, but early in the story finds out that her brother will take the throne. She then sets out on a journey to Bayern, where she forms a relationship with the prince of Bayern (Geric).
This book wasn’t my favorite, and it seemed overly long. On the good side of things, it isn’t as bad as its cover.
The details: 383 p. 2003 Review by Madisyn
